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Tampa Police Spokesperson on Fake Sign Language Interpreter: ‘I Let Her In’

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Another sign-language interpreter is accused of signing total gibberish.

This time it was at the police news conference announcing an arrest in the Tampa serial killings. A woman standing off to the side was supposedly translating every word, but it turns out much of what she was signing was nonsense. The woman, identified as Derlyn Roberts, has a string of arrests for fraud. So how did she come to be “translating” at last week’s high-profile police news conference?

What does the incident reveal about accessibility and inclusion for the deaf and hard of hearing in society?

A recent news story involving a fake sign language interpreter at a press conference in Tampa, Florida has stirred up controversy and raised questions about the security and screening procedures of public events.

During the September 25th press conference announcing the arrest of a suspected serial killer in the Seminole Heights neighborhood of Tampa, a woman identified as Derlyn Roberts was brought in as a sign language interpreter. However, as several professional sign language users quickly pointed out on social media and to local news outlets, Roberts appeared to be making random gestures and signs that bore no resemblance to ASL (American Sign Language).

In an interview with WFLA News Channel 8, Tampa Police Department spokesperson Steve Hegarty admitted that he had not thoroughly vetted Roberts before allowing her into the press conference. He stated, “I let her in. It wasn’t something we ever anticipated. We’re doing the best we can to bring information to the deaf community.”

Hegarty also acknowledged that the police department did not have a specific protocol for verifying the qualifications of sign language interpreters at public events. “It’s something that’s now on our radar. It’s something we’ll look at, certainly for future events,” he said.

The incident has sparked outrage among the deaf and hard of hearing community, who rely on interpreters to access important information in a timely and accurate manner. Many viewers of the press conference were appalled and confused by Roberts’ performance, and expressed their concerns on social media and in comments to news outlets.

One Facebook user commented, “Seriously, if you do a quick Google search of ‘DEA regulations for sign language interpreters,’ you’ll find plenty of information. This was a complete fail on so many levels.”

Another wrote, “The deaf community deserves to receive accurate information. It’s not just about hearing what’s being said, but also about understanding it. This is a disgrace.”

The incident has also shed light on the broader issue of accessibility and inclusion for the deaf and hard of hearing in society. While there are laws and regulations in place to ensure equal access to information and services, there is still a long way to go in terms of awareness and understanding among the general public.

As Hegarty noted in his interview, the police department will be taking steps to improve their procedures for verifying the qualifications of sign language interpreters at future events. It is hoped that this incident will serve as a wakeup call for other organizations and individuals to prioritize accessibility and inclusion for all members of the community.